Secretary



' No Modl.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. H. E-LWARD- SECRETARY.

No. 275,616. Patented Apr. 10, 1883.

To all whom it may concern:

Fig. 6 shows in perspective one of the sliding each other.

. UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. ELWARD, OF STILLWATER, MINNESOTA.

SECRETARY.

SPECIFICATIDN forming part ofvLetters Patent NO. 275,616, dated April 10, 1883,

' I V Applicationfiledziannary17,1882. (No model.)

Be it known that I, JOHN H. ELWARD,

citizen of the United States of America, resid-;

ing at Stillwater, in the county ot'Washington andS tate of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Secretaries; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying draw-; ings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part'of' this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a secretary embodying some of my improvements. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the same differently arran ged. Fig. 3 is a top plan, showing the sec-y retary illustrated in Fig.2 when closed. Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical sections of wing B, Fig. 1.

drawers. Fig. 7 is a top plan of four similarly-constructed wings.

The object of the invention is to so construct and arrange the various parts'of the secretary that several can occupy positions at and around it, each having double the pigeon-hole facilities that are provided by secretaries or desks as ordinarily constructed.

The invention also aims to allow easy communication between the occupants, although they are seemingly entirely separated 'from It aims also-to permit such a change or adjustment of the'parts that adesk can readily be arranged for one or for two or more to occupy it. 4

In the drawings, A represents generally one of the wings of the secretary, andB and D other wings,reference being now made especially to Fig. 1. Of the wings there shown those represented by A and D are substantially similar inconstructio'n, diii'ering only in the manner of hinging them to-the intermediate part, B. Theintermediate wing, B, is constructed to have two sets of pigeon-holes, drawers, or spaces, one set upon each side thereof, as shown at E F G, and also to have a compartment at H, which may be either closed or open continuously through the desk to allow of communication between those sitting upon opposite sides. The arrangement ofthe parts of the wing B, which will permit communication ,willbe readily understood from the further explanation to be hereinafter given.

When the parts are arranged as shown in Fig.

'1 the wing B is employed simply for the facili a wing, 0, similar in construction to the wing B, is inserted, and the wing D is attached thereto in a manner analogous to that in which it is attached to the wing B in Fig. 1. When so arranged it becomes necessary to have a desk or table between the wings O and B. v I- provide a desktor this purpose and arrange it to be concealed within the OOIDPZIIIZIIIGIILHC H. The desk is preferably formed, as shown, of three parts, I J K, hinged together. The part I is of substantially the same width as the wing B, and is supported in suitable ways in the compartment E. It is arranged to slide into and out from said compartment, its movement being limited by means of a stop, 41, fitting within a groove or way in the bottom of the leaf. At the front side it carries the leaf J, which is hinged to the leaf I in such manner that it can occupy eitherthe position shown in Fig. 2 or an upright position, as shown in Fig. 5, or be folded down upon the leaf I, as shown in Fig. 4. The leaf K is hinged to the leaf I in such manner as to permit its being folded down on the leaf I, as shown in Fig. 4, or be put into an upright position, as shown in Fig. 5. When these parts The part I is locked to the side wall leafJ is turned into an upright position and locked atj.

When the secretary is in the condition shown in Fig. 1that is to say, when the tables A and D, attached to the wings A and D, are in use-and the communication through the wing B is desired, the compartment Hmay be opened, so as to permit such communication, as follows The part J is unlocked, the.

bolts i and k are withdrawn, and the leaf I'is pulled out far enough to allow the leaf K' to be folded down upon it in one direction and the leaf J to be folded down upon it in the other direction, after which it is moved back into the compartment, as shown in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 7 a secretary is formed of four wings, all constructed alike, the construction being that of the wings B and O in Figs. 1 and 3. When so constructed and arranged four can be accommodated, each having two sets of pigeon-holes and drawers. Thetahle or desk for each one is of the nature of that at I J K, already described.

The whole device can be closed and put in compact shape, as shown in Fig. 3, and the various parts may be locked together, if desired, in any suitable manner.

At N and 0 are shown pigeon holes or apartments in the wings opposite to those at E and F. Although I have shown the several wings to be formed with substantially similar apartments or pigeon-holes, yet it will be un derstood that these may be varied as circumstances or needs may require.

If desired, links P may be used to support leaves J of the tables, the links being pivoted to said leaves and arranged to slide through eyes p, attached to the side pieces, I.

I do not claim a desk having a wing with an aperture or apartment extending continiv ously through from one side to the other, as I am aware that desks have been heretofore known each having a single wing, and being provided with desks facing each other, and with'an aperture or apartment extending continuously through.

I am also aware of the fact that it is not new to hinge together two or more wings, broadly considered, as the parts of book-cases have been thus joined together, and I do not claim broadlythis feature; but I am not aware of the fact that a desk has ever been used consisting of a series of wings hinged together, as I have shown, having theintermediate wing or wings each provided with a single table and with athrough-compartment, each of the win gs being arranged to swing horizontally relatively to the adjacent ones, so that they can be placed compactly together. Nor am I aware of the use heretofore of a desk having parts corresponding to those shown at A and D in Fig. 1, with a wing like that at 13 in said figure hinged to both of them, the wings A andD and their tables being arranged so that the occupants shall face not oppositely, but in the same direction, and so that each occupant shall have not only pigeon-holes or storingapartments in front of him, but also similar apartments upon one side or the other, the whole being arranged so that when the tables are folded up the wiugsA and D can be swung around against the intermediate one to inclose the whole of the contents.

IVhat I claim is-- 1. In a secretary, the combination, with the wing A, having a table or desk, A, adapted to be folded within said wing, and the wing D, having the table or desk D, adapted to be folded within said wing, of an intermediate wing provided with the apartment E F upon one side, the apartments N 0 upon the opposite side, and the apartment H extending continuously through the wing to permit communication, said intermediate wing being hinged to the wings Aand D, whereby said wings can be swung on horizontal lines relatively to each other, in order to fold them together compactly, substantially as set forth.

2. In a secretary, the combination, with the wings A and D, each having a desk or table facing substantially in the same direction, of an intermediate win g provided with apartments or receptacles upon each side, and with the compartment H extending continuously through the wing to permit communication, said intermediate wing being hinged to the wings A and D, whereby all of the wings may be folded together on horizontal lines to inclose the contents when the desks are not in use, substantially as set forth.

3. In a secretary, three wings hinged together successively, and arranged to swing on horizontal lines to fold them together, each being provided with a table which can be concealed within the wing which carries it, and the intermediate wing being provided with an aperture or apartment which extends continuously through it, substantially as set forth.

4. In a secretary, the combination,with the wing A, having a table or desk, A, and a wing, D, having a table or desk, D, of an intermediate wing formed separately from the said wings A and D, but hinged to them respectively, and provided with pigeon-holes upon each side, separated by a partition, and with an apartment, H, extending continuously through the intermediate wing, and means at each end of said compartment H for closing it, substantially as set forth.

5. In a secretary, a series of wings successively hinged together on vertical lines,whereby each can be swung relatively to the adjacent ones on horizontal lines, and each formed with pigeon-holes and apartments on each side of the wing, and with an apartment extending continuously through the wing, whereby communication is permitted through the wings around the series, and whereby the whole can be folded together when the desks are not in use, substantially as set forth.

6. In a secretary, the combination, with the wing A, having a table or desk, A, and the wing D, having a table or desk, D, of an intermediate wing united by hinge-connections to said wings A and D, and provided with a compartment, H, extending continuously through it, and the table or desk, I, having the part J adapted to close one side of said compartment II and the part K adapted to close the other side, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses: J OPIh II. ELW'ARD.

H. H. Buss, J. S. BARKER. 

